Children on bikes are often unsteady, slow and unpredictable. Slow down. Allow at least 3 feet of passing distance between the bicycle and your vehicle

Wait patiently for children to complete their crossing before you proceed

Try to make eye contact with children who are waiting to cross the road

Stop when directed to do so by crossing guards

Do not load and unload children into vehicles across the street from the school

Don’t double park in the school zone – this blocks visibility for other children and vehicles

Never pass a vehicle that has stopped for pedestrians

When traveling behind a bus, follow at a greater distance than you would when following another car. This will give you more time to stop once yellow lights begin to flash

Watch for bikes coming from behind parked cars or driveways

Do not block crosswalks when stopped – this forces pedestrians to go around you and puts them in the path of moving traffic

Watch for children arriving late for the bus – they may dart across the street without heeding traffic

Back-to-school driving has its challenges. However by remaining alert, eliminating distractions, and following these back to school safety tips for drivers, you can do your part make the roads safer for children and school bus drivers.